Welcome to the German-South African Lawyers Association!

We are pleased that you are interested in the German – South African Lawyers Association (in German: Deutsch-Südafrikanische Juristenvereinigung (DSJV)).

South Africa has undergone a remarkable change, which has made itself felt not only at the social and political level and changed the economic relations between South Africa and Germany. Radical changes have occurred, in particular from the legal point of view. Numerous legal codes were created to match the changed condition, some of which took German legislation as a guide.

The world followed the development in South Africa full of suspense, especially in 1994. Following the elections, which took place peacefully, South Africa experienced an atmosphere of new departures and time of reform. Linked to this upheaval was the growing interest of European countries to diversify the relationship with South Africa. The number of people from all over the world who want to visit and become acquainted with this country was constantly rising. There is an ever increasing trend towards touring the rainbow nation as a tourist and also, at a business level, towards making contacts with enterprises of various sectors or intensifying existing ties. The GSLA would like to contribute to satisfying the need for exchanges, especially at the legal and economic level.

The objectives of GSLA

The GSLA is a bilateral association open to all lawyers who are specifically interested in South African and German law. It is intended particularly for persons who are concerned with South African law through their studies or professional occupation.

It is a matter of special importance to the GSLA to create through its activities a framework to promote permanent professional and personal contacts between lawyers of the various lines of the profession in South Africa and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The GSLA particularly aims at…

propagating and extending knowledge about German law and legal thinking

propagating and extending knowledge about South African law and legal thinking

promoting legal studies and academic work in Germany and South Africa

fostering academic cooperation with like-minded associations, institutions and national and international organisations

promoting vocational training for young lawyers in both areas of law

promoting and assisting intellectual and personal exchanges of practising lawyers in both countries

providing information to answer enquiries regarding German and South African law